Instructional systems design and the learning sciences: A citation analysis

Learning sciences (LS) and instructional systems design (ISD) are two related fields that have shared interests in the application of technology for advancing human learning. While the two fields may have different values, boundaries, and in some cases methods, they also share significant overlap of content and purpose. We examine the relationship between the two fields through a citation analysis of three journals in each of the respective fields. The findings of the study indicate that the amount of cross-field publication is low, but there exists a trend for increased cross-field citation. As cross-field publication increases, we suggest that the existence of invisible colleges that link the fields will become more salient.